The next Friday, Tom and I made a show of leaving town.

We carried luggage to the car.

Loaded everything where anyone nearby could see.

Then drove away.

Instead of traveling far, we checked into a hotel about forty minutes from home.

Saturday evening, Tom opened the camera feed on his laptop.

For nearly two hours, nothing happened.

Our backyard remained dark and silent.

I was beginning to think Lisa had been mistaken.

Then the gate opened.

One person stepped inside.

Then another.